Strange AC issue, please help.

[Montollio]

Hi guys, I work for the Geek Squad so I rarely drive my own car. It has little had use for about 3.5 years, 2003 PT Cruiser with 30 k miles on it. I recently made a move and noticed the AC no longer is blowing cold at all. Also, when I turn the AC on it does not make any idle difference at all. I can only assume the compressor is not turning on. So I went and but a 134 refill kit, I hooked it up to the low side pressure and it is reading a little above 100 PSI. The kit said not to fill it if it is in that red zone so against my inner most urges to fill I did not. So, this leaves me with an AC that does not work, I am thinking it is some switch or a valve, can anyone here give me a list of least expensive to most expensive ways to repair this or any ideas why it is so high. I am ok at working on my cars and my dad is very good at it so I can always ask for his help. His knowledge of AC is pretty limited however. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you,

-Daniel

[CREWZIN]

Welcome to the forum.

My first guess would be that the compressor is frozen from non-use. I've always been told to run the air-conditioning even thru the winter months to keep lubricant running around the system for the seals and compressor. But, as I said, that's just a guess.

The only fuse that I know of for the air-conditioning is the number #11 fuse in the black fuse box under the hood.

Here's a couple threads from the Internet talking about the exact condition (No cold air & 100 psi on low side) so maybe that will give you an idea where to look.

WikiAnswers - The air conditioner in a 1998 Chevy S-10 only blows warm air and when the low pressure port was checked it was getting 100 psi what would cause this

00 SL2, a/c not working; low side reading over 100psi?!? - SaturnFans Forums

[air4cefamily]

you can also check and it will tell you if the compressor is working. Disconnect the compressor cable, and in the end with two holes, bend a paperclip and put it in there. now turn on the air conditioner. If it comes on you know the compressors good.

[resiurcPT]

I don't mean to hijack the post, but I'm having the same problem, but
When driving with A/C running it gets cold and when idling it blows warm
air. I can't hear the compresser cycling on and off when looking under
the hood. I have tryed putting freon in but won't take it. I don't know
what to do next. Ok, I think because it is night time, the temp is going to be diff.
But when i started the car and turned on A/C the fan would come on and when
i turned it off the fan would shut off. I will try again tomorrow when the temp is hotter.

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by resiurcPT

I don't mean to hijack the post, but I'm having the same problem, but
When driving with A/C running it gets cold and when idling it blows warm
air. I can't hear the compresser cycling on and off when looking under
the hood. I have tryed putting freon in but won't take it. I don't know
what to do next.

Your sounds like a fan problem. When your moving the air coming into and thru the radiator and condenser cools it enough to give you cold air in the air-conditioning but when you stop and the fan isn't running, it goes back to warm air. When your looking under the hood, is the fan on?

[resiurcPT]

The fan would come on when the compressor was on and when it would
cycle off the fan would shut off. Let me go out and make sure that what i wrote
is right.

[CREWZIN]

Not good. ANYTIME the AC is ON the fan should be ON. The compressor can cycle on and off but the fan has to be on to cool the radiator and condenser when your stopped. Once the car reaches 35mph the computer shuts the fan off because there's enough air coming in the front to cool everything off.